Shanghai Gets Improved SMS Capacity

AsiaInfo has signed a contract with Shanghai Mobile, a China Mobile subsidiary, to upgrade the carrier's Internet Short Message Gateway (ISMG). Shanghai Mobile selected AsiaInfo to deploy its original ISMG in early 2002. Since its initial implementation, the system has supported two million messages on average per day and about three million per day during peak times.

China's Short Message Services (SMS) market was valued at US$234 million in 2002. This year, the amount is expected to triple to approximately US$750 million. In terms of number of messages, in 2002 China Mobile's subscribers sent more than 80 billion short messages, and the carrier expects 120 billion short messages be sent via its network in 2003.

"AsiaInfo is delighted to work in partnership with Shanghai Mobile to upgrade its SMS service capabilities," said Xingsheng Zhang, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaInfo. "Although China's telecommunications carriers remain cautious about increasing capital expenditures this year, they are clearly shifting their investment focus to areas that will increase their efficiency and profitability, such as value-added services. We are glad to partner with carriers to improve their SMS service provisioning with our advanced messaging solutions, while further strengthening our position in this high-growth market."

Posted to the site on 30th June 2003